While the world’s eyes are focused on Jordan these days, I was shocked to find a quarter page anti-Jordan ad in The Washington Post yesterday [image enlarges on click]. The ad, entitled Highlighting intimidation by the Jordanian authorities was signed by a New York-based businessman named Omar Karsou. In the ad, Karsou alleges that his son was intimated and harassed by the Jordanian authorities due to the father’s dealings with some Jordanian businessmen. Karsou concluded his ad with the following:
I never heard of this case or this businessman before reading this ad. Karsou obviously has a grudge, as he was wailing to pay big money to broadcast his case to the world and try to put Jordanian authorities to shame. Of course, we are only hearing one side of the story. We really do not know what happened. Nor do we know if his allegations are accurate. Regardless, I believe Jordanian authorities should reply to his ad and publish a rebuttal ad — one that offers some explanations — in the same spot in the Post, if possible. Those, like myself, that read the ad yesterday, need to hear an official Jordanian response to such serious allegations, ones which seemed primarily aimed at tarnishing the image of Jordan. |
Update: Omar Karsou left a comment on this blog with a bit more detail, saying:
Natasha,
I do not have a personal grudge against Jordan, or the majority of
Jordanians. I love that country, I spent the better part of life in it.
But I happen to love my Son just as much, if not more.. Anyway, before
I placed the ad, I contacted the Jordanian Embassy in Washington,
pleaded with them to help out, even sent them a draft of the ad, to no
avail. Again, I am pleading with the Jordanian authorities to let
justice take it’s course, clamp down on corrupt officials. Only then
will I have achieved my "objective", which I believe, is yours too.
Omar
So you get to be murderers and victims to those you have harmed at the same time? sick Zionist bastards.
“I am afraid justice will find its way to you”.
And this means what exactly. That you’re hoping for the death of innocent American and Brits because of the messed up policies of our government?
“All we can do is hope that Amercians and Brits will wake up and vote better in future elections.”
is that it? Saddam gets a death penalty for killing Iraqis. Bush, Blair, Olmert get nothing for killing hundreds of thousands of Arabs? Is this how it works in civilized countries? no court martials? no impeachments? just an electoral slap on the hands as consolation to the loved ones of the hundreds of thousands of Arabs you have killed, maimed, and starved for no fault of their own? Is that white/zionist justice? I am afraid justice will find its way to you.
“This is hypocritical. You don’t like Olmert, Bush and Blair, impeach them, overthrow them, do whatever you have to do to save the lives of innocents who are suffering because the majority of Israelis, Americans, Brits have voted for murderous regimes. Don’t play victim because you are not and don’t come and whine to us about how you are not responsible. In US, UK, Israel murder is a majority decision. that’s the mother of all culpability”.
It doesn’t work that way GubGab. We elect our leaders in the west and we don’t overthrow them. All we can do is hope that Amercians and Brits will wake up and vote better in future elections. And just becasue you don’t like our system doesn’t mean you should blame all Americans, Israelis and Brits for the actions of their governments.
I’m afraid I have to agree with GubGub. The people of a nation should take responsiblity for the imature and poor decisions of their elected leaders. Isn’t this what democracy is all about.
If you argue the opposite then all these democratic countries might as well have leaders like Saddam Hussein.
Hell the West are holding people in the non democractic Arab world responsible for their leaders actions, and they want to run away from it themselves.
This is not about democracy or non democracy. Its about who has the power and they’ll use it.
And ScottScott, lets not forget how the Palestinians, after electing Hamas, are being starved and brutalized. As you can see, US, UK, Israel make the rules, we use the rules to apply them back to you. It’s only fair.
Honestly, ScottScott, you’re insensitivity is disgusting. You did not have to waste so much time on a post that at the end does not advance the discussion. the answer is simple: with democracy comes accountability. When the armed forces of one nation kill the people of another nation, either the people of the murderous nation take to the street and overthrow their elected government, or they decide that their TV and beer drinking time is more valuable than saving the lives of tens of thousands of innocent Iraqis.
Where are the martial courts for Olmert, Blair and Bush? Where are the impeachments? Where is the day-and-night mass protests in Israel UK and US? When terrorists struck London and NY, Islam and the Muslims world was held accountable. Muslims were put under a microscope, activists were rounded up, Islam and Arabs were defamed in the Western and Israeli press and continue to be subject to a non-stop vilification campaign, even though the terrorists were not elected by Muslims but acted alone.
But when the elected governments of Israel UK and US kill and invade tens of thousands of innocent Arabs you still want to be absolved from responsibility and you want your religion and culture to be exempt from the moral responsibly of breeding so much violence and so much hate and so much deception.
This is hypocritical. You don’t like Olmert, Bush and Blair, impeach them, overthrow them, do whatever you have to do to save the lives of innocents who are suffering because the majority of Israelis, Americans, Brits have voted for murderous regimes. Don’t play victim because you are not and don’t come and whine to us about how you are not responsible. In US, UK, Israel murder is a majority decision. that’s the mother of all culpability.
Honestly, GubGab you’re naiveté is galling. Is that honestly how you think democracy works? You think that the elected official equates to the whole of the people, so the actions of he or his administration should serve to damn the nation?Think about that in the context of Charles Taylor, Kim Jong Il, Margaret Thatcher and Hosni Mubarak. Does it apply in all cases equally?
Sorry, these leaders represent the winning side. And that’s primarily when you view democracy in a vacuum. US democracy does not operate in a vacuum. Remember, in an election, there’s the winner and then there’s the opposition. Both represent the people of the state. Sometimes it’s a dead heat, meaning fully half of the people actually do not support the victor. And that’s forgetting the fact that only a sorry percentage of people the world over actually turn out and vote, so their views on things aren’t even represented.
But, as an example, let’s consider the US situation. In the first election Bush did not win the popular vote; more Americans voted for Gore than Bush. How did Bush win? Do some research, then perhaps revise your treatise on “damning the whole.” The second time round, again, while he won, it was a squeaker: nearly half the country voted against him. And, of additional note, is that two years later, that 50% grew and the new majority soon to take control of the legislative branch are Democrats, the opposition.
So now you want to say that the all Americans should be damned for letting Bush win? That’s just ridiculous. Take a poll of your friends and neighbors in all phases of global development: developing world to those living through the machinations of western development. See if they think their government represents the full and total will of the people. Did Arafat? Does Putin? How about Blair or Chavez? Of course they don’t. Ideally, they represent a polled majority, who may full well change their mind later.
So should you hold the whole of the people accountable for the decisions of the winning percentage? No. And fortunately for the world, few do. Should the Tutsis have paid? And now, should all the Hutus? Your irrational exuberance suggests so: damn them all. It’s ludicrous. Nations are comprised of individuals. Their government/leaders are representative at best, and that representation has limits.
In diplomacy referring to Jordan, for example, refers to the government of Jordan and not the people, called Jordanians. Recognize that although there are flaws in democracy it’s a hell of a lot better than anything else out there. And recognize that the leaders, be they good or bad men, still operate in a system that can shackle their decision-making. Democracy is an ugly beast of a system, but it’s the best thing out there.
Although the above applies, with regard to the Israel and democracy issue, you just cannot accurately compare US democracy to Israeli “democracy”, though I understand the desire to do so.
Israel is not a true democracy. If you are not Jewish, you do not enjoy the full rights of the state; there is discrimination based upon religion. I’m sure there are those that would argue, but it’s simply not a democracy. And even if some want to say it is, its actions work much as above: they represent the winning percentage of the electorate; often the most vocal part of that percentage as well. In the case of Israel, the most vocal are often settlers. They are those that think quite the opposite, even in Israel. Should they all be made to pay?
BTW should the US be seen as a shining example of democracy? No. Maybe India will prove better. Iraq has clearly proven that you cannot import and impose democracy. Time has shown that democracy means and develops into different things for different people. For lack of a better term, democracy has “versions.” And it is something that must come from within.
In summary: Suggestions about damning the whole of a people because they elect an idiot is simply ignorant. Broaden your mind, or do us all a favor and stay in your cave.
I read a post entitled as “anti-Jordan ad” only to find that an accusation of corruption against the Jordanian regime (an unquestionable fact!)is considered as anti-Jordan publicity according to you. This is what gave me that impression, well, plus a number of other previous posts of yours. Have a nice day.
“When someone refers to anti-US sentiment, do you think they mean that they have negative feelings about the people of the US”
When the majority of Americans voted for Bush after the lies have been exposed, they are responsible for his actions. Citizens of a democratic super power bear ultimate responsibility for their elected government’s conduct, good or bad. What’s the point of democracy if people don’t take responsibility for their elected leader’s decisions. Same in Israel. For over half a century, the majority of Israelis voted to expand jewish-only enclaves in occupied Arab territories, to pursue repressive policies that drive an average of 20 thousand non-Jews out of the land, and to kill any non-jew who resists. Democracy = culpability of citizens.